Clamp tool



N 6, 9 3- I c. T. BOCKHOUSE CLAMP TOOL Filed Sept. 26, 1942 INVENTOR. Charles T bockhouse AT'TORN E Y5 Patented'Nov. 16,1943

of pelawai e This invention relates toa novel toolior apply- I dug lclamps'to. packin'g"cases," and relates more ="particularly.;to a tool especiallydesignedfor applyin'gl spring clamps ,to l packing cases an'd 'the like p '..""1;;. if-"i-l Shipping cases or packing cases are formed of plywoodfcardboard, and similar materials to reduce their weight'and improve their appearance and usefulness, as compared to the older type cases made of relatively thick wood boards. To form ,cases of the lighter materials it was found necessary to frame the sides and lid with cleats or battens as nailing strips. It was found that the nailing of the strips often split the same. In

any event, the'strips would not hold nails after ,2 claims.

\ v -ioLAMP 'rooL l I CelaneseCorporation 'of Arnerica a I ,"nppueiue sestmber 26,1fl4: :SeriaJl-No;459 ,86

the spam or. the einients at the completion of I r a few packing case opening and closing operations. This destroyed the use of the case eventhough the plywood panels formingjthe sides and lid were still in a fair condition. To prolong the life ofthe packing case, there was devised a.

cor oration I clamp affixing operation, and A. V M liigure :5 lris -a topl planview :of th elements shown in -Figure 4.

v:rLike reference numeralsl indicate like parts" throughoutv the severarviews'rof the drawing."

The packing casedt'o wh-ich lamp may be 'afiixed by the toolo'f my invent maybe of-any suitable size and: strength, rdepending :upc'n its prise side walls I with a lid 2 fastened thereon by means of a metal clamp 3 that'extends from under a batten or cleat 4 forming the upper marginal edge of the packing case I up the side of said batten, across a batten or cleat 5, thus sea novel type of clamp that extended over the batten of the lid and sides to lo ckthe lid in position. I

Some difliculty was experiencedghowever, in applying these clamps, especially on the larger size cases where the clamp used" is normally made of relatively heavy gaugematerial; It is accordingly an important object of this invention to provide 1 a tool for applying clamps to packing cases and the like which will be simple 'and'durable in con-' struction and efficient in operation.

curing the lid to the side wall of the packing case. Any suitable number of clamps:may be employed to fasten the lid on a packing case. Although the clamp 3 is preferably made of spring steel, it may be of plastic material, non-ferrous alloy, etc,',

, depending upon the size and use for which the packing case is intended. The clamp 3 is formed from a rectangular piece of material bent to a 90 angle at three points indicatedby reference Another object of this invention is the provi sion of a tool for facilitating the application of clamps to packing cases and the like which acts tosnap the clamp in operative position on the packing case without causing damage to the latter. I p v Other objectsof this invention will appear from the following detailed description and drawing.

In theldrawing, wherein a preferred embodi-v ment of my invention is shown,

, Figure 1 is a perspective view ofa section of a packing case showingaclamp in operativeposition to secure the lid thereon,

Figure '2 is a perspective view of a tool for facilitatingthe application of a clamp to a pa'cking case, constructed in1a'ccordance with my invention, I l 7 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tool and of a packing case section showing the position of the tool with respect to the clamp and packing case atthe beginning of the operation to affix the clamp to the packing case,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure3, showing numerals 6, 1 and 8, thus forming four sides 9,

j ll,,l2 and [3. The clamp is preferably reinforced with an angle piece M of the same material as the clamp or other suitable material.

The clamp a must have some flexibility, i. e. havethe property of springing back-to its original shape after flexing. It 'is attached to the case by being sprung over the battens or cleats 4 and 5. The tool constructed in accordance with my invention quickly and easily springs the clamp into desired operative position. This tool comprises a lever having a handle l5 at one end and at its other end a U-shaped head IS, the ends of which are bent and cut away toform two pro-' jections H, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described.

Two arms [8 arepivotally mounted on the head "5 by means of a pin ,l9'and spacing collar 2!. The free ends of the arms l8 are connected by a shaft 22 on which is mounted a clamp retainer 23 formed of two integral clamp engaging members 24 and 25 extending substantially at right angles to each other from their juncture,

on the shaft 22. This clamp, retainer is adapted to grip three sides of the clamp and to guide the same as it is being sprung into locked'positionr The member 24 terminates ina bent portion or l claw 26 while the member 25 terminates in contact element 21 formed at right angles to member 25. The member 25 may be a. single element extending the width of the clamp retainer 23, or

it maybe formed of two or more fingers as shown in the drawing.

1. A tool for applying clamps toan article, comprising a lever having a handle at one end and projections at the other end thereof, said projections being adapted in operation to be in To fasten the lid on a packing case, the clamp I contact with the article, arms pivotally carried,

by said handle, a shaft journaled in the free 1 ends of said arms, and means pivotally mounted on said shaft for engaging the clamp and for snapping the clamp into positiomon the article,

said means comprising two integral clamp engaging members substantially at right angles to each other.

elements 21 in contact with side [2 of the clamp;

' The handle l5 of the tool is, then pushed toward the packingcase until the projections" engage the'lower edge of batten 4. The handle I 5 is then pushed downward and forward springing the clamp into operative position' as shown in Figure 4, the tips of projections l1 acting asfulcrums.

After the clamp is locked in position the handle I5 is pulled upward in an arc to remove it'from theclamp3.

\ Itisitolb'e understoodthat the foregoing .de-

tailed description and drawing areogiven merely by way: of illustration and that, many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of ;-my invention.

Having describedmy invention, what I desire to seourebyfLetters Patent is: v f I 2. A tool for applying clamps to an article,

comprising a. lever having a handle at one end and V projections at. the other end thereof, said projectionsbeingadapted in operation to be in contact with the article, arms pivotally carried by said; handle, a shaft journaled in the free ends of .said arms, and means pivotally mounted on said shaft for engaging the clamp and for snappingthe'i clamp into position on the article,. said means" comprising, two; integral clamp .en a ng members substantially, at right;- angles toiveach other;;each of said members having, an additional clamp engaging portion. thereon. 

